Past Continuous

Form
[was/were + present participle]

Use
1) Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The
interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real
interruption or just an interruption in time.

I was watching TV when she called.

When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
What were you doing when the earthquake
started?

2) Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple
Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

At midnight, we were still driving through the
desert.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk
at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past
Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.

Examples:

Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.

I started eating at 6 PM.

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.

3) Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea
that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

I was studying while she was making dinner.

While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching
television.
Were you listening while he was talking?
4) Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular
time in the past.

Example:

When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the
phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One
customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each
other about the bad service.

5) Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that
something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the
expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or
"constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

She was always coming to class late.

He was constantly talking.
I didn't like them because they were always
complaining.
Past Continuous Forms

Positive Negative Question

 I was singing.  I was not singing.  Was I singing?

 You were singing.  You were not singing.  Were you singing?
 We were singing.  We were not singing.  Were we singing?
 They were singing.  They were not singing.  Were they singing?
 He was singing.  He was not singing.  Was he singing?
 She was singing.  She was not singing.  Was she singing?
 It was singing.  It was not singing.  Was it singing?